5 and 6 weeks postpartum

I have lost an additional 2lbs this past week. This puts my weight loss to a total of 31lbs. Very happy about this. This past Sunday I started a walk to run 5k program through the Runkeeper App on my phone. I formerly used Nike Run app but the reviews went from great to terrible in my 9 month absence from running so I decided to use Runkeeper. Since Runkeeper has various training plans I can utilize, I felt that I made a great choice. As long as the GPS reports accurately I will be happy as Rocket when he gets a Popsicle, which is pretty darn happy. The mapmyfitness app had a terrible GPS for running and biking.

I have done a jog/walk for 1.56 miles the first day which was Sunday, The second run on Tuesday was a "sprint"-walk which I did for 2.01 miles. Tomorrow is another jog/walk for 1.5 miles. Looking forward to it. My knees are a little achy today but I wore really craptastic flats all day instead of my running or walking shoes: lesson learned the hard way. Around the house and running errands I must wear supportive footwear.

My weight training is still consistent this week which is important to my continued weight loss since muscle burns more calories than fat does.

In terms of how eliminating excess sugar from my diet is working out- that is still so so. More often than not, nutrient-rich whole plant foods dominate my meals. Not stress eating so much, just my insane sugar tooth that keeps me wanting and than eating the sweets. I would love to eat dessert once a week instead of every day, therefore that is my goal for the next seven days.

Update on my two boys: Baby Lex and Rocket are both thriving. Rocket is very sweet with his baby brother which I am very happy about. And Lex is being the best 6 week baby he can be :-)

Here is a picture of Baby Lex looking around in my arms after his morning nursing.

Week 4 and 5 Postpartum

Last week (week 4) began my earnest attempt to eat a nutrient rich plant based diet and begin cutting out the junk. I started strong and as all attempting to change their eating habits do. Day 1 and 2 I was the immaculate eater, but then on Wednesday I thought I would make homemade vegan almond joy candies. I did and they were delicious but by bed that night they also were over halfway gone. My husband had two pieces (out of 25 pieces) and Rocket had two. Whelp. The next morning I woke up craving -you guessed it my homemade candies. So that was that- I practically ate all the candies except four. True it was my birthday but still it was a little excessive. Fast forward to the next day after and I made banana bread. In two days I ate it all. About 10 servings. That is pretty much all I ate except a few things here and there but again- the the thing. Crazy right? I will answer that it is crazy and excessive.

I think I am finding a pattern here. I eat sweets in excess. I keep reading that to stop craving sugary and flour desserts, you must increase vegetable intake. So on Sunday I bought a lot of vegetables and fruit to get me back on track. I am on track-thank goodness so we will see what the rest of week 5 postpartum will bring. The important thing that I must remember is that I am doing this for me, to reclaim the body that I still picture in my mind's eye. I am fit and athletic in my head and the mirrors reveal to me and remind me that I am far from that.

On the upside, my exercise habits are becoming consistent. Lifting weights power walking, and yoga are helping me to feel and get strong again.

Another accomplishment, despite poor eating habits is that lost 2lbs. Yippie! 195 to 193lbs.

I took pictures of me a couple weeks postpartum and I will take updated one month postpartum pictures soon. I will do a two month postpartum pictures when baby Lex is around two months old. This will help keep me motivated to not only exercise consistently but also eat for nourishment cutting the junk out to impress you readers of my progress :-).

Eating clean is the missing link that is preventing me from becoming fit and athletic again. I mentioned a short term goal last post but that was about weight loss; my short term fitness goal is to begin running this week. My long term weight loss goal is to fit back into my size 6 jeans while my long term fitness goal is to run half a marathon. Both of my weight loss and fitness goals I want to accomplish by the time baby Lex is 18 months old.

Cheers to accomplishing my short term goals to accomplish long term goals. Until next week.

Second Week of Muscle Building

This has not been the week for exercising. Although I did workout out 3 times this week, the only day that I partially stuck to my plan was Wednesday and that was only the spin part.

On Sunday night I food poisoned myself- not washing my hands after going to the grocery store and eating Oreos in the car ride hold was probably the culprit. In addition to Sunday and Mondays break from running, pool, and gym: today's long run was cancelled due to the fact that both my son and I have chest colds, his being more hardcore because he is only 13 months old. I have not run outside which has been a little tough on me as I love running, but honestly I just don't want to be sick anymore. Today I feel much better than I did yesterday but since Rocket is worse and could not go to daycare, I am home with him and will not take him out for a run.

Not giving up on my 4 week plan because I still DID get two strength training circuits in on Tuesday and Thursday so I did not retard my weeks prior accomplishment in the gym.

That pretty much sums up my week. I have a recipe to share so hopefully I can finish the instructions and post that this weekend.

One final success: I am 141lbs. I am pretty happy about this number because when I joined the National Guard my big almost NoGo was that I was 14lbs overweight. At the end of training I weighed 147lbs from 156lbs at the start of basic training. So the success is that I have changed my diet completely to a vegan, plant-strong diet and when coupled with a sound exercise plan I am losing weight without restricting my caloric intake. Now that is IMPRESSIVE!!